Russia's drone war comes to Moldova and Romania
Incursions by Russian drones into Moldovan and Romanian airspace are increasingly common. This week the Ukrainian president's plane was stopped from taking off from Chisinau. Observers suspect the attacks are deliberate.
Russia's drone war has now extended to Moldova and Romania, with drone incidents becoming almost a daily occurrence in both countries. The drones often explode, causing injuries, and there have been attacks on Ukrainian checkpoints at the Moldovan and Romanian borders. One incident in particular caused a significant disruption, as a Russian Geran drone crashed in Moldova, preventing a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from taking off.
The latest drone incursion and crash in Moldova on Tuesday sparked outrage, as it posed a serious threat to the country's air defense capabilities. The drone was detected and tracked by air traffic control, but no action was taken to shoot it down. Moldova has only a limited number of anti-aircraft missiles, which are primarily used to protect specific targets.
Since the beginning of August this year, there have been around three dozen drone incidents in Romania and Moldova, with the majority being airspace violations. However, there have also been crashes and explosions, and debris has been found. In Romania, several drones have been shot down. On September 8, a drone strike damaged the Starokozache border crossing between Ukraine and southeastern Moldova, resulting in two deaths and injuries.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu and Defense Minister Igor Grosu have strongly condemned the attacks, with Sandu stating that Russia's war has arrived at the Moldovan border. Grosu emphasized that these incidents can no longer be viewed as remote or unconnected to Moldova. The Romanian military has not yet reacted to the latest incidents, but there has been a shift in policy, with the country starting to shoot down drones in its airspace.
The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that while there is no evidence of intentional airspace violations, Russia may be using the drone incidents to test NATO and Moldovan defenses. This article provides a detailed account of the escalating drone war in Moldova and Romania, highlighting the increasing threat to their air defenses and the potential consequences for regional security.
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